PPIs raise risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia

PPIs increase the risk of hospital-acquired pneumonia by 30%, according to US researchers.

Their study included 63,878 adults admitted to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston over three years. Fifty-two per cent were given an acid suppressant - either a PPI or a H2-blocker - during their stay and 4.9% of them developed pneumonia compared to 2% of the unexposed patients.

The authors conclude that the use of a PPI significantly increased the risk of pneumonia by 30% but H2-blockers were associated with a non-significant 20% increase risk.